Fusible link.



W. W HAWKINS & J. M. DUNCAN.

FUSIBLE LINK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. 1915.

Patented July 1916.

WITNESSES: l/VVE/VTOR I UNITED s15 S WILLIAM W. HAWKINS AND J OHN M. DUNCAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANI4.

FUSIBLIJ LINTK. 7

Application filed November 13, 1915. Serial No. 61,216.

To all who-m it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM W. HAW- KINS and JOHN M. DUNCAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of'Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fusible Links; of which the following is a specification.

Our intention relates to improvements in fusible links, and more particularly to. a fusible link designed for use in connection with automatic sprinklers, the object of the invention being to provide a'fusible link in which a ball or other rolling member acts as a cam to force the elements of the link apart, and insure a perfect operation.

A further object is to provide a link of the character stated which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonably low price, and which will be sufiiciently strong to with- .stand all the necessary tension of the apparatus, yet quickly operate when subjected to a predetermined temperature.

With these and other objects in view, the, invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. 0 1

In the accompanying drawings: Figurel is a plan view illustrating our improved fusible link. Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Figs. 3, 4, and 5, are plan views of the three link elements. p v a 1 and 2 represent the outside elements,

and 3 the intermediate element tr, our im-- proved fusible link, a ball 4 operating to will .herein- Y couple the elements together as v after a pear. The elements 1, 2, and 3, are prefera ly stamped from sheet metal or they maybe formed in any other manner which will produce the shapes desired. The intermediate member 3 is provided with a central opening 5. It is also provided with an eye 6 adjacent one' end, and with arecess 7 in its opposite end. The links .1 and 3 are constructed precisely'alike. They are each' provided with a central spherical socket 8, and with an eye 9 adjacent one end,

and a recess 10 at their other ends.

In assembling the link, the ball 4 is located through the opening, 5 in element '3, and projects into the sockets -8 i n the elements 1 and 2. The elements 1 and 2 are positioned with their eyes 9 and recesses 10.in aline-= ment, and the element 3 is positioned with.

Patented July'lS, 1916.

its eye-6 registering with the recesses 10 and its recess 7 registering with the eyes 9 of elements 1 and 2. It will be noted that the ends-of elements 1 and 2 adjacent the eyes 9 are curved or flared slightly apart as shown at 11', and it will also be noted that.

the end 1201? element 3 terminates an a preciable distance short of the ends of she meptsrl and 2, and operates as a fulcrum to assist the ball 1 in separating the elements as will more fully hereinafter appear.- A filling of solder 13 is provided between the elements and around the ball as shown clearly in Fig. 2, and this solder is of the fusible kind which melts at a desired temperature to release understood. When the parts are assembled as shown, fthe ball 4 with the aid of the solder 13 se curely couples the elements of the link to- F-gether soas to withstand any strain or 'ten sion to ,which the device is put.

the elements as will be flor heat, the tension on the elements 1, 2, i

and 3, causes the curved surfaces of the :socket 8 to ride on the curved surfaces'of v ,the ball fl as the element 3 is drawn iirja direction opposite to the direction of move? ment of the elements 1 and 2-. The ball,- therefore, by reason of its camaction, throws the elements 1 and 2 away from elementv3,,-.

thus quickly separating the elements, and] allowing the automa it is connected to operate.

tic sprinkler to which .As aboy'e stated, the flared'ends 11 facilii fulcrum on the end 12;o'f element 3, and we therefore, can utilize this additional tend 'ency to separate the elements as well as the cam action of the ball. I

Various slight changes: might be made in,

the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from our invention, and hence we do not limit ourselves to the precise detailsset torth, but consider i ourselves at liberty to..make such changes 4 "and alterations as fairly fall' within the. 10 1 tate this separation of the elements as they loeate d side by side and soldered together,

the outside plates having registering openings at one end of the link, the intermediate .platejhaving an opening at the other end Qiimhe link, said intermediate plate having a l-opening therein, said outside plates'having sockets registering withthe opening, and aball in said opening and sockets, substantially as described.

3. A fusible link consisting of three elements held together by fusible solder, the intermediate element having an opening therein, the outside elements having sockets therein, and a ball projecting through the opening and into both sockets, substantially as described.

4. A fusible link comprising three plates located side by side, and said plates held together by fusible solder, the intermediate plate having a central opening, the outside plates having central sockets, and a ball projecting through the opening and into both sockets, substantially as described.

5. A fusible link, comprising three plates located side by side, the intermediate plate havingan opening therein, the outside plates having sockets therein, a ball located in the opening and projecting into both of said sockets, and fusible solder interposed between the links and between the ball and the outside links, substantially as described.

6. A fusible link, comprising three plates located side by side, the intermediate plate ad a ball coupling the three having an opening therein, the outside plates having socketstherein, a ball located in the opening and projecting into both of said sockets, fusible solder interposed between the links and between the ball and the out side links, the outside link s having eyes at one end and recesses in their other ends, the intermediate link having an eye at one end registering with the recesses in the outside links, and having a recess at its other end registering with the eyes in the outer links,

said intermediate link at its recessed end terminating short of the ends of the outer links which have the eyes therein, substantially as described.

- 7, A fusible link, comprising three plates I located side by side, the intermediate plate links which have the eyes therein, said outer links at their eye ends flared apart, substan tially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presenaeeoi two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM W. HAWKINS. JOHN M. DUNCAN. Witnesses: C. R. Zrnsnna, SHW. Foams. 

